Below is a list of 10 reasons why designers should not participate in design contests.
- These types of sites are purely for the clients benefit and offer the designer no guarantees
- You will spend a lot of your time, effort, and skill working on something you most likely won’t get rewarded (paid) for.
- Clients who claim to “know about design” tend to ignore good designs and choose the ones where bevels and rainbow gradients are used.
- If the client doesn’t like what they see once the time period is up they can get their money back, but your time and hard work will not be refunded
- Some of the people who use these sites think graphic design is cheap and simple
- It can be demoralizing and frustrating for the designer
- Designers who use these sites to improve their skills and get real world experience can pick up bad habits and skip vital steps and techniques
- producing meaningless designs
- not doing any research about the product, service, or industry
- not developing a creative process
- Very little communication between designer and client
- Designers resort to unhealthy and illegal methods in order to win
- copying other peoples work
- plagiarizing
- produce dozens of thoughtless designs
- designing below your standards in order to win or satisfy a client who knows nothing about design
- You are contributing to the devaluation of the design industry
Do you have a different opinion or something to add? Leave a comment and let us know.
I think in some cases it would be alright to enter design contests, especially if you are super good at it you might have a chance to win.
Other variant is possible also
I think that you are right in your point; however, we won’t go generalizing contests. I wow third place national in PBL competitions, for e-commerce.
That is a really big deal, for college level. I think that some competitions are healthy, important and also a way where you can really push your limits.
My own example was: I didn’t know php, and it was something for the e-commerce framework I used. So I learned it in like 3 weeks…
Everything has its cons and pros, its up to the designer see if the pros are bigger and better than the cons, in every aspect of his/her creation
I’m all for design contests. In the situation where you’re a starting designer and have an empty(ish) portfolio, having something serious to work on is a bliss. Besides – if you’re good you have big a chance to win. And if you do, you can be sure that the client is satisfied (you won – didn’t you?). Which means that your first clients might become your first regular ones and/or recommend you to others.
Thank You for your comment Felipe, there are some benefits but I feel the negatives out weight the positives
What’s wrong about bevels?
Thanks for your comment snowflake
Clients that use design competitions undervalue designers and I don’t think they would be good clients to have, of course there are exceptions but I think for most that is true.
Thanks for your comment mnx
There is nothing wrong with bevels if you use them appropriately, If they are overused it looks unprofessional
Well, when I first saw the title of this i thought hmm, what could be so bad with doing design contests, besides not being the winner. I didn’t really put much thought into it before i guess. I’ve never participated in any so. But you really make some good points, and I have seen that alot of them aren’t really that great, the designers/designs that is. I have seen a few worthy contests though, like photoshoptalent.com which is now pxleyes.com. There are AMAZING designers there. A few other sites too are pretty good. but yeah most are crap. I doubt I’ll ever partake in any myself though. I feel the winners would be chosen based on someones opinion of what the best is, which is stupid in design, cuz everyone see’s designs differently period. Anyways, you do make good points here.
Thank You for your comment Jared
Excellent post. I put up a link to this page on my daily design blog:
http://designthoughtfortheday.blogspot.com
Ted
Thanks for the link Ted Rex
good article, some of your points where coming to my mind too, when hearing from these design competitition portals the first time. especially the devaluation of the design industry.
Reading your list, I believe these points apply more specifically to crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing is a design competition of sorts, where businesses get free design work, and “award” the best designer with pay. While I disagree with this kind of arrangement, there’s nothing wrong with a reputable design organization hosting a contest for students, charity, or for progress/ideological goals. It’s a great way to get industry exposure and to stretch your creative process in domains you may not be used to.
Cheers,
Jon
Thanks for the comment Jonathan, yes I meant crowd sourcing and I agree with you not all design competitions are bad.
Design competitions are a waste of time, this people wants samples first, is a illusion of work, is for people who only want easy and fast money.
btw your blog is very interesting
Cheers.